Grieving For Dummies

Coping and recovery strategies for dealing with the loss of a loved one Whether the death of a loved one is sudden or expected, grieving the loss is a difficult yet transformative process. Grieving For Dummies approaches this very important subject with sensitivity, helping readers who are grieving the loss of a loved one as well as those who want to support them in this process. This compassionate guide covers all types of profound losses, including parents, spouses and partners, children, siblings, friends, and pets. It also addresses children’s grieving and how the manner of death may cause additional hurdles to grieving the loss. The book is filled with practical suggestions for moving through the phases, stages, and tasks of grieving with an eye towards successfully integrating the loss of a loved one, while at the same time, keeping the love shared alive.

'Chances are, if you are reading this, your heart is broken. This book is designed to help those in pain - and specifically those who have lost someone through death - to imagine the path before them. It is a path of suffering. But it is also a path that may lead to unexpected discoveries - and to peace.' There is no sure route through grieving. Jerusha Hull McCormack provides instead a series of signposts by which we may find our own path to a new life. 'We are all amateurs at grief' she writes, 'it comes to us all; we must all go through it. To treat grief as a problem to be fixed, or (worse still) to medicalize it, is to rob us of the extraordinary privilege of encountering this experience on our terms: for each of us has our own way of grieving, and each of us has something special to learn from the process.'

Inspired by the website that the New York Times hailed as "redefining mourning," this book is a fresh and irreverent examination into navigating grief and resilience in the age of social media, offering comfort and community for coping with the mess of loss through candid original essays from a variety of voices, accompanied by gorgeous two-color illustrations and wry infographics. At a time when we mourn public figures and national tragedies with hashtags, where intimate posts about loss go viral and we receive automated birthday reminders for dead friends, it’s clear we are navigating new terrain without a road map. Let’s face it: most of us have always had a difficult time talking about death and sharing our grief. We’re awkward and uncertain; we avoid, ignore, or even deny feelings of sadness; we offer platitudes; we send sympathy bouquets whittled out of fruit. Enter Rebecca Soffer and Gabrielle Birkner, who can help us do better. Each having lost parents as young adults, they co-founded Modern Loss, responding to a need to change the dialogue around the messy experience of grief. Now, in this wise and often funny book, they offer the insights of the Modern Loss community to help us cry, laugh, grieve, identify, and—above all—empathize. Soffer and Birkner, along with forty guest contributors including Lucy Kalanithi, singer Amanda Palmer, and CNN’s Brian Stelter, reveal their own stories on a wide range of topics including triggers, sex, secrets, and inheritance. Accompanied by beautiful hand-drawn illustrations and witty "how to" cartoons, each contribution provides a unique perspective on loss as well as a remarkable life-affirming message. Brutally honest and inspiring, Modern Loss invites us to talk intimately and humorously about grief, helping us confront the humanity (and mortality) we all share. Beginners welcome.

As Dr. Mark Goulston tells his patients who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), "The fact that you’re still afraid doesn’t mean you’re in any danger. It just takes the will and the way for your heart and soul to accept what the logical part of your mind already knows." In Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder For Dummies, Dr. Goulston helps you find the will and shows you the way. A traumatic event can turn your world upside down, but there is a path out of PTSD. This reassuring guide presents the latest on effective treatments that help you combat fear, stop stress in its tracks, and bring joy back into your life. You'll learn how to: Identify PTSD symptoms and get a diagnosis Understand PTSD and the nature of trauma Develop a PTSD treatment plan Choose the ideal therapist for you Decide whether cognitive behavior therapy is right for you Weight the pros and cons of PTSD medications Cope with flashbacks, nightmares, and disruptive thoughts Maximize your healing Manage your recovery, both during and after treatment Help a partner, child or other loved one triumph over PTSD Know when you're getting better Get your life back on track Whether you're a trauma survivor with PTSD or the caregiver of a PTSD sufferer, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder For Dummies, gives you the tools you need to win the battle against this disabling condition.

Being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) doesn’t have to mean your life is over. Everyone’s MS is different and no one can predict exactly what yours will be like. The fact is, lots of people live their lives with MS without making a full-time job of it. MS for Dummies gives you easy to access, easy to understand information about what happens with MS—what kinds of symptoms it can cause, how it can affect your life at home and at work, what you can do to feel and function up to snuff, and how you can protect yourself and your family against the long-term unpredictability of the disease. You'll learn: Why some people get MS and others don’t How to make treatment and lifestyle choices that work for you What qualities to look for in a neurologist and in the rest of your healthcare team How to manage fatigue, walking problems, and visual changes Why the road to diagnosis can be full of twists and turns How to understand the pros and cons of alternative medicine Why and how to talk to your kids about MS How to find stress management strategies that work for you Your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act Complete with listings of valuable resources such as other books, Web sites, and community agencies and organizations that you can tap for information or assistance, MS for Dummies will tell you everything you need to know in order to make educated choices and comfortable decisions about life with MS.

Thinking about getting a ferret? Want to make sure you’re giving the ferret you already have the best possible care? Ferrets For Dummies helps you decide whether a ferret is for you and give your little fellah a healthy, happy home. It’s packed with practical information on feeding, housing, health maintenance, and medical care. This friendly, plain-English guide gives you the authoritative information you need in a cut-to-the-chase, quick-reference format. You’ll find the latest on appropriate diets for ferrets, dental hygiene, common ferret diseases and infections, and designing and establishing an enjoyable and enriching environment for both your ferret and yourself. You’ll also get solid tips about how to get to know your ferret and introduce it to other family members and how and when to give your ferret and his cage a good cleaning. Discover how to: Choose the perfect ferret Ferret-proof your house Handle ferret first-aid Make foods your ferret will love Deal with behavior issues Select terrific ferret toys Interpret your ferret’s actions Find the best vet for your ferret Travel with your ferret Make sure your little friend doesn’t get bored Decide whether to breed your ferret Complete with helpful lists of ferret myths and misconceptions as well as recipes for meals your ferret will gobble up, Ferrets For Dummies is the resource you need to keep your ferret happy and healthy for years to come.

Covers wellness, nutrition, and socialization Keep your dog happy and healthy through the golden years Senior dogs are special creatures with special needs. This friendly guide provides reassuring, positive advice on handling the physical and emotional issues involved in caring for your beloved companion. You'll see how aging affects your dog, how to cope with common ailments, and what you can do to help your senior live a joyful, high-quality life. Praise for Senior Dogs For Dummies "The book is a resource that will enhance life both for senior dogs and for the humans who love them." - Teri Goodman, Coordinator, The Senior Dogs Project, www.srdogs.com "A dog who has lived his lifetime with you is a precious jewel to be loved and treasured. Susan has captured that spirit." - Liz Palika, author of Purebred Rescue Dog Adoption Discover how to: * Meet your senior's dietary needs * Safely exercise your senior * Manage health costs * Teach an older dog new tricks * Gain inspiration from stories about super senior dogs

Practical, hands-on information for fathers-to-be Dad’s Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies is packed with practical, straightforward information for fathers-to-be, covering all of the logistical, physical, and emotional aspects of pregnancy from a dad’s unique point of view. When it comes to pregnancy, dads’ roles have changed so much in the past few decades that expectant fathers don’t always know where to turn to for guidance and advice on this milestone event. Now they do! Dad’s Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies covers: What to expect at doctor’s visits Tips for being a supportive partner during pregnancy and preparing for fatherhood Advice on birth plans, labour and delivery, and the first days and weeks of a baby’s life Packed with helpful information on the typical struggles and feelings expectant fathers face, Dad’s Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies gives first-time fathers and veteran dads alike a wealth of useful information.